Automobile-bumper



A. L. MCGREGOR. AUTOMOBILE BUMPER APPLICAT`ION FILEDAN. 17| i921.

Patented m2241921. Y

2 SHEETSHSHEEI 2.

l UNITED STTE a,

(Parent oFFlcE.

ALLAN L. MOGREGOR, F CHICAGO, ILLNIS.

AUTOMBILE-BUMPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

Application filed January 17, 1921. SeraLNo. 437,732.

4tendine; throughout the central portion of the bumper.,

ln common with all bumpers of this character, the object of the invention is to provide a structure which will afford ample protection to a motor vehicle inthe event of collision, and at the same time havingsuf licient strength and rigidity to resist thev permanent distortion of the bumper lunder the impact. The desirable features are ob tained, for the most part, by designing and assembling the parts so as to promote the equal distribution of the shock throughout the bumper structure, and that degree of resiliency calculated to absorb the maximum amount of the shock which otherwise would be transmitted to the vehicle. 'lllie bumper embodying the features .of the present invention is a type which exhibits these char acteristics.

The drawings,- which may be referred to in the following,r discussion, may be briedy described as follows:

Figure l is a top plan view of the bumper as attached to the frame of a motor vehicle,

Fig. El is a view in front elevation of the bumper,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view in vertical section, taken online 3, 3 of Fig. Q,

Fig. 'll is a detail viewi-in cross-section, taken on line t, d of Fig. 3

Fig. 5-is an enlarged detail view in top plan of one end of the bumper,

6 is an enlarged detail view in front elevation showing the hinge connection ern-- ployed at the end of the bumper, band Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view similar to Fig. 5 showing r a modification of the hinge connection, illustrated in Figs. 5 and t.

ln its general structure the bumper comprises a front impact member consisting of a central impact section It, made up of two parallel bars spaced apart vertically, end sections B, B extending laterally beyond the ends nf the central impact sectionwA and forming the outer lli-shaped extremities ofr the bumper, and a secondary bar C extend-` ing the length of the bumper,- tothe rear of the impact member and forming,r a reinforcing member therefor. The complete structure 1s attached to the frame members l), D of the vehicle through the medium of suit,- able attaching brackets F, E, having direct connection with the rear bar C.

Referringnow more in detail to the various parts of the bumper already` described, the central impact section A is madelup of v two parallel bars l, l which are spaced apart one' above the other and joined together at their ends by means of vertical pins 2, 2 I

which engage eyes formed` at the ends of said bars, these pins being provided at their ends with screw caps or nuts 3 which are removable ifor the purpose of assembling; lor disassembling the Structure. Y Connected with the pins 2, 2 and intermediate the ends 4 of the bars l, l are single bars t, 4 of comparatively short length which extend outf wardly and 13earwardlyrt to the extreme ends ofthe bumper and form-'the front portions of the end sections BV; Byrllie inner ends of the bars l are bent inthe forni of eyes which surnound the pins 3, 3 inteimediate the ends of the bars l, l, as clearly shownfin Fig. 5. Thus the connection between the central impact section Ac and end sections B, is rela* tively flexible inasmuch as the adjacent ends of the bars l and t have pivotal connection with the'pins 3. p

As before suggested, the secondary bar C extends the full width of the bumper, being spaced for the most part rearwardly of the central impact section 'llhe free ends of the member tl areconnectedjto the outer ends of the bars et, t in a manner hereinafter to be described in detail, and moreover are theend sections B, B. Throughout por`-` tions iminediatelyadjacent and having connection with the brackets E, E, the bar'assumes a parallel relation with the central impact section fora short distance, as at 6, 6, whereupon the bar is bent in V-shape and forwardly toward the central impact section so that the apex of the V-shaped portion '2" terminates midway between the i end of the central impact section A and in the vertical plane thereof. At this point a connecting member, clearly shown in Fig. 3, is mounted, th'e same acting to tie the apex of the V-shaped portion 7 to the bars l, 1 of the central impact section A. This connecting member comprises a pin 8 similar in all respects to the pins 3, 3, and extends verticallyimmediately to the rear of the-bars 1, 1. As before, the ends of the pin S are surmounted by removable screw caps 9, 9, and carried upon the pin are `blocks 10, 10 which occupy positions adjacent the ends of the pin and areprovided with recessed.

lugs 1()n in lthe nature of hooks which engage the outer edges of .the bars 1, 1. Likewise, there is mounted on the pin 8 and in-y termediate the blocks 10, 10 the vertical locking plaie 11 provided with integral ears 12, 12 which extend between the edges of the bar 7 and those of the bars `1, 1, said .ears being provided with apertures through which the pin S extends, as clearly shown in lFig. 4. The ends of the plate 11 overlap the bars 1, 1, thus performing the function of V, anchoringthe saidbars 1, 1 as well as securely tying the portion 7 of the bar C at thecentral point of the impa'ct section A.

Referring now in detail to the manner in which the outer ends of the bars 4, 4 are connected with the corresponding ends of the rear membei C, the extremities of these bars' are bent in U-shape, as clearly shown vin Fig. 5, these U-shaped extremities having overlapping engagement with each other, the end of the innermost barl 4 partially surrounding a short hinge bolt 13. Mounted upon the bolt 13 and bearing iatwise against the upper'and lower edges of the bars is a pair of annular plates 14, 14 provided with integral peripheral iianges 15 extending throughout the portion ,of disks adjacent l' the U-shaped extremity of the outermost bar. In addition to the flanges 15, the plates 14 are provided with integral lugs 16 which project from the under surface of the plates and engage the opposed inner faces of the bars. These plates being securely clamped together by means of thebolt 13 and the nut 13a mounted at one end thereof the ends of the bars are pivotally connected .together and in overlapping engagement by means of the -flanges 15, 15 and the lugs 1G, the latter serving as stops to prevent sliding movement between the overlapping ends of the bars in one direction, thus providing in eliect a limited yieldable connection at the ends of the bumper, permitting the contraction of the U-shaped endsunder impact but dampening the reaction in the opposite direction.

In yFig'. 7 a modified construction is illustrated which may be equally Well employed for the purpose of connecting the bars together atthe ends of the bumper. In this construction the same arrangement ot ooit and plates are used as before, although the -instead of passing around the bolt in oppo site directions, shown in Fig. 5, otherwise the modified construction is similar to and provides the same type of connection as the one heretofore described in connection with Figs. 5 and G.

-i bumper constructed in this manner has all the shock absorbing qualities desired. not only by reason of the inherent qualities of the material but also because ot the manner in which the several parts are assembled. .lt is to be observed that the central impact section is in reality a unit in itself. beingr .pivotally supported by means of the relativelyv short bars 4. -lforming a part of the end sections B. To avoid excessive degree of resiliency throughout the central part of the bumper, the rear ineinbei or bar C is brought forward and secured at the center of said impact section, the two inclined arms of the V-shaped portion 7 providing braces or truss bars allording increased resistance against impacts received by the central impact section and serving to distribute the impact uniformly throughout the entire structure. Furthermore, the V-shaped portion 7 partially closes the space separating the bars 1, 1 of the impact section thus preventing the passage of objects between the bars 1, 1, which might otherwise strike the parts of the vehicle immediately behind the impact section.

Having described the device of the invention, I claim as new and novel:

1. In a bumper, the combination of an impact section, end sections pivotally connected with the ends of said impact section, a

` bar spaced rearwardly i'rom said impact section and connected at its ends to the end sections. and having its central-portion oil'- set forwardly and connected with said impact section intermediate the ends thereof.

2. In a bumper, the combination of a central impact section` end sections pivotally connected with the ends of said impact sec- \tion, a bar spaced rearwardly from said impact section and connected at thc end of the bumper to the end sections, and having its central portion otl'sct forwardly in V-shape and connected at its apex with said central impact section. I In a bumper. the combination of a central impact section. comprising bars spaced apart vertically, end sections comprising relatively short bars pivotally connected between tlie bars of said impact section. and a bar spaced rearwardly of said impact section and extending between the outer ends of 'said end sections.

4. In a bumper, the combination of a cen- 'endsof said end sections.

tral impact section, comprising bars spaced apart vertically, end sections comprisin re1-l atively short bars .pivotally connecte be.-

tween the bars of said impact section, and a bar spaced rearwardly o said impactsecing the .end sections of, the bumper and p`iv.

otally connected to said pins between the ends of the bars of said impact section, and

a reinforcing bar pivotally connected to the -ends of said single bars and fixed at its central portion between the bars of said central impact section.l

GLI-In a. bumper, the combination ofI a central impact section comprisin vertically `spaced bars, pins extending t rough eyes formed at the ends of said bars, single bars pivotally connectedwith said pins and exf tending outwardly to the ends of the bumper,

and a lrearwardly disposed bar pivotally connected with the ends of said single bars, and extending inwardly and connected with the Vehicle frame7 the portion of said' bar tending in V-form toward the central portion of said impact section and xedat its apex between the bars thereof.

In witness whereof, I .hereunto subscribe my name this 11thday of January, A. D.,

ALLAN L; MOGREGOR.

intermediate the, points o connection eX-' n 

